Fair price 71 C10

[CETompkins]

I have a chance to purchase my uncle's 1971 C10 and was wondering what a fair price would be. It is a 71 C/10 ps, pb disc, lwb 2wd, it has been painted once and retains all it's original sheet metal and 98% of everything else. Bumpers and hub caps have been replaced the rest is all original, Engine and trans were rebuilt at 60k but are numbers matching, the truck has 79k original miles on it now and has been garaged since 1980. I only have two pictures to give you an idea how clean this truck is. I would like an idea what I should offer him. I have an idea but would like your input.

[68bowtie]

wow that's a super nice truck. not sure what it's worth, but it sure is nice. how come your uncle doesn't know what it's worth?

[Ken B]

I'm sure others will chime in but I would have to guess its worth at least 6 grand in my neck of the woods.. I know if it were mine I wouldn't sell it for that... It looks to be super clean and obviously maintained.

[Ed F]

Here in salty road country, you couldn't touch it for less than $10k and could go as high as $15 depending on actual condition. Plus you have the family connection that you can't buy at any price

[Overdriven]

Originally Posted by Ed F

Here in salty road country, you couldn't touch it for less than $10k and could go as high as $15 depending on actual condition. Plus you have the family connection that you can't buy at any price

I agree with this. But if it were me I wouldn't sell to my nephew. I'd be driving until the day I died and leave it to him in my will. Consider yourself lucky I'm not your uncle!

[67ChevyRedneck]

7-8K would be a fair "family" price. I'd put 12K on it if I were selling it and take 9.5-10K.

If that was a shortie, you'd be looking at another 4-6K with a truck that original and clean.

Very nice truck and I love the factory bronze color, I hope you get it an enjoy it.

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

7-8K would be a fair "family" price. I'd put 12K on it if I were selling it and take 9.5-10K.

If that was a shortie, you'd be looking at another 4-6K with a truck that original and clean.

Very nice truck and I love the factory bronze color, I hope you get it an enjoy it.

I agree. It's worth all of 10K. Family adds value. Can't believe he wants to sell it.

[LongBox]

One thing to keep in mind is that you know the vehicle's history, and that takes most of the risk factor out of the purchase decision. That's the good news. The bad news is that as my old family lawyer used to say: "It's bad business to do business with the family." You have to consider that you want to maintain a good relationship with your uncle, so you do not want to offer him a bad deal.

With those things in mind, and assuming it does not have ANY rust, I'm with the guys above that think it's a $12,000 truck. Keep us posted on the outcome.

[Coley]

Yep....I'm in agreement with most of the guys here.
I would offer $6500- $7500.
You want to be respectful of the fact that it has been offered to you by family...so you don't want to take advantage of that by 'lowballing' family.
Based on the photo's the truck is worth more than that.
The amount of 'family discount' depends on the family.....some think 80% of value....some think 25% and some think....free.
Regardless, don't let it pass you by and start the 'negotiation' with a long conversation or two with your uncle.
My two bits.
Coley

[CETompkins]

Thanks for the input guys. I can tell you the phone photos do not show how clean the truck is, it as nice as the day it left the showroom floor, maintained beyond excess. I have tried to purchase it multiple times over the last ten years and now it might be a reality, it has spent the last 20 yrs sitting in storage and seeing an occasional startup and drive around the storage lot to keep things lubed up.

I look at some of your numbers thinking WOW! that seems really low but I am in Ne. where everthing is rusty if driven and a super clean classic brings big $$$$'s if it is nice. plus I know the history and how anal my uncle is about this truck. The whole reason he is concidering selling is he may put 30 miles a year on it and storage is $1000 a year and I think he relizes it's time to pass it on to someone else that will enjoy it and take care of it as well as he has.

The number may seem high to some but I know he is thinking somewhere in the teens for it but we shall see.

[68bowtie]

you are probably in the right ballpark, definitely in the teens.

[71swb4x4]

$8,000 - $10,000 imo.

[Overdriven]

Originally Posted by CETompkins

I can tell you the phone photos do not show how clean the truck is

I look at some of your numbers thinking WOW! that seems really low but I am in Ne. where everthing is rusty if driven and a super clean classic brings big $$$$'s if it is nice.

The phone pics do dull the shine a little, but there's so many reflections in the paint making it obvious it's a nice paint job. The rest we have to take your word for.

As for the numbers of some guys, I don't know. Not knowing true condition underneath, wishful thinking, or just plain having more of them around makes their judgement meters screwy compared to others who arent so lucky. I'm always amazed when I go on eBay or Craigslist and the sheer number of 67-72's I see in other parts of the country. If there's 6 listed within 150miles of me at one time that's a lot, in other parts of the country that's considered a slow day. Oh metropolitan rustbelt, how I hate thee at times.

[CETompkins]

Originally Posted by Overdriven

The phone pics do dull the shine a little, but there's so many reflections in the paint making it obvious it's a nice paint job.

Not knowing true condition underneath, wishful thinking, I see in other parts of the country. If there's 6 listed within 150miles of me at one time that's a lot, in other parts of the country that's considered a slow day. Oh metropolitan rustbelt, how I hate thee at times.

There are no others listed in my area that are anywhere near the quality of this truck, I do know there has never been any rust issues or accidents with this truck, and I am in the process of doing a resto mod on a 70 Mustang and I know 15k does not go very far in the process so if I have to give that for a ridiculously clean 98% original truck I am okay with that.

[el_fantasma]

What a cool opportunity, good luck with whatever you and your uncle work out. You can do no wrong.

[ForrestHead]

6K-7K. I'd be concerned that it's been driven so little for so long. Start driving it everyday and I imagine all your seals and gaskets are gonna start crumbling. Good chance it'll have a rusted fuel tank. These are just things I've encountered over the years with many diff vehicles that have sat for long periods, they may not happen in this case, but be prepared to spend several hundred to a couple thousand goung thru the engine in 2 or so months.

[3drburb]

That is a stunning truck. $12,000 + easy. Just hope he would rather keep it in the family and hopefully you can get it for $8000 or so.
Maybe you can cruise in it with him sometime.
I honestly don't think you will find that truck for sale in today's market listed for under $20,000 ASKING price.
Good luck.

[boraxman]

12-14k truck all day long. Offer him 10k for it, being family and all.

[68Gold/white]

I disagree with all the numbers being tossed around, for a reason.

There's buyers and sellers etiquette.

Even though it's a family deal and you don't want to insult anyone, you need to find out hopefully what the seller is expecting to get, FIRST.
Some kind of a hopeful narrow price range...

I'd never jump out and make an offer, not knowing where I'm at with the seller!

Proper decent words need to be spoken to the seller and family, explaining that you want to purchase that pickup, and that you don't want to insult them by making an offer that's too low (DON'T mention that you also don't want to over pay, either...LOL).

Then there's the question...Is anyone else in the family interested in it? That can make things sticky. IF, IF there is, you need to talk to them about their $$$ expectations of what they want to spend, all the while doing this to keep peace among your family.

I really like it, mostly because it's a 71, which can only have disc brakes on the front, no need for converting.

These are just thoughts from my 58 years experience of living...

[CETompkins]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

I disagree with all the numbers being tossed around, for a reason.

There's buyers and sellers etiquette.

Even though it's a family deal and you don't want to insult anyone, you need to find out hopefully what the seller is expecting to get, FIRST.
Some kind of a hopeful narrow price range...

I'd never jump out and make an offer, not knowing where I'm at with the seller!

Proper decent words need to be spoken to the seller and family, explaining that you want to purchase that pickup, and that you don't want to insult them by making an offer that's too low (DON'T mention that you also don't want to over pay, either...LOL).

Then there's the question...Is anyone else in the family interested in it? That can make things sticky. IF, IF there is, you need to talk to them about their $$$ expectations of what they want to spend, all the while doing this to keep peace among your family.

I really like it, mostly because it's a 71, which can only have disc brakes on the front, no need for converting.

These are just thoughts from my 58 years experience of living...

You hit the nail on the head there 68Gold/white. I am not expecting a special family price I want it to be a fair number we are both happy with and his son wants it but will not be gifted it nor does he have the funds to purchase it.

[frenchy51]

Hurry up and get the title on that beauty before you regret it the rest of your life. Examples like that are few and far between!! And it's family-you have to adopt it.
Sell the Mustang if you have to (-; (just kidding...)

[MARKDTN]

I would agree on the hurry up part. My uncle bought an '83 K20 Scottsdale brand new. I always wanted it and told him if he ever sold it to give me first dibs. We lived about 300 miles apart. In '91 he called me and said he was ready to sell. It had 42K miles and not a scratch on it. He said $2500. I said I want it but I just got married and I was in college. I needed a month to come up with the money. In the meantime somebody else found out it was for sale and could pay now AND offered $4000 for it. He gave me first refusal and I had to come up with more money. I'm not mad at him. It was still a great deal. I still have it. So my advice is if he names a figure you can live with, pay him.

[Coley]

Mark's story on the 83' K20 reminds me of one that happened to me as well.
My uncle bought a brand new 1969 firebird convertible for my aunt...orange, 350, white interior, ps/pb, etc, etc...really nice looking car.
However my aunt suffered from schizophrenia and a few other mental health issues and would take it out to go shopping and then walk home....because she forgot where she left it...lol.
So my uncle took it off the road and wouldn't let her drive it.
Well after 15+ years (mid 80's) the car only had around 12,000 miles on it and I always told him I would like to buy that car some day.
It still had the original tires on it, original spare in the trunk...mint original shape.
Sadly he passed away but it was offered to me for $5-$6000 in 1986 from the estate....not free or necessarily perfectly cheap, but well worth the money.
Well, like Mark I now had my education to pay for and was in school and was unable to afford to buy it and had to let it go.
That car today...with that mileage would have been great but so it goes.
My point is don't let it go if you really want it....but (again) sit down with your uncle and have a few long conversations about where he is at with it. This is respectful, this is helpful...and (in my opinion), required and it lends itself to you coming to terms with both him and what you are after here.

My two bits.
Coley

[67ChevyRedneck]

...and I guess to go with the few posts above... have the scratch in hand. Don't settle on a number and then "have to get back to him" in a few months with the $$. Be ready to buy when you talk $

[CETompkins]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

...and I guess to go with the few posts above... have the scratch in hand. Don't settle on a number and then "have to get back to him" in a few months with the $$. Be ready to buy when you talk $

Talking to him and will get a chance to drive it and view it after all these years, it is his baby and I am sure it will be hard to part with, but I have been working on the procurement of this truck since I first rode in it when I was younger and on hunting trips. It needs a home where it will be driven and aprecciated not just stored! Cash in hand has always been there he really does not want to part ways with it but does nothing with it.